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Privacy policy

Last updated: 11 April 2013

The Conversation is committed to protecting the personal information of both our contributors and readers. We want our website to be a safe and enjoyable environment. Here we aim to help you to understand what information we might collect about you and how we use it. In this Privacy Policy, “personal information” means information or an opinion about a person whose identity is apparent, or can be reasonably ascertained, from the information or opinion.

Data protection principles

The Conversation complies with the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003. The eight principles relating to the processing of personal information are:

Fairly and lawfully processed

Processed for a limited time

Adequate, relevant & not excessive

Accurate

Not kept longer than necessary

Processed in accordance with your rights

Secure

Not transferred to countries without adequate protection

We will always follow these principles and ask you how you would like us to communicate with you.

Collection and use of personal information

The Conversation will, from time to time, collect and use personal information. The types of personal information collected and the purposes for which that personal information will be used will depend on the circumstances. For example, The Conversation may collect personal information when you:

Sign up as a contributor to or create a profile on The Conversation

Join a conversation or comment on someone else’s article or contribution to The Conversation

Participate in a survey or provide feedback to The Conversation

Disclosure of personal information

If you sign up as a contributor to The Conversation, we will publish your contributor profile, which may include personal information, on The Conversation.

If you join a conversation or comment on someone else’s article or contribution, The Conversation will publish your post, which may include personal information, on The Conversation, such as your name and position. Other than these situations, The Conversation will not disclose your personal information to third parties except:

To third parties which assist the operation of The Conversation (in which case we require these contractors to keep that personal information confidential and not to use or disclose it for any purpose other than the purpose of performing those services)

In exceptional circumstances, The Conversation may be required or authorised by law to disclose personal information, for example to law enforcement authorities or to prevent a serious threat to public safety

With your consent

Handling of personal information

The Conversation will take all reasonable steps to protect all personal information held by it from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.

Accessing your personal information

Any person may seek access to personal information, which The Conversation holds about that person and we will provide access to that information upon request. There are certain exemptions, which may apply to the provision of that information. We may require that the person requesting access provide suitable identification and we may charge an administration fee for granting access to information. Requests to access personal information held by The Conversation should be addressed to us-privacy@theconversation.com.